Help Save Newborns in Haiti

Summertime brings extremely high temperatures to Haiti, and that can lead to dire consequences to the nations’ most vulnerable residents. For months, political scandals and a severe decrease in the fuel supply has resulted in highly erratic power supplies throughout the nation. Healthcare facilities such as Justinien University Hospital (JUH) in Cap-Haitien are not immune. Konbit Sante is purchasing oxygen containers, along with essential medicines, that can be filled and kept in stock at all times so that when the power fails, there will be back-up oxygen available at JUH.

We need additional funding to continue this important work at JUH, which is the largest public hospital in Cap-Haitien and the second-largest in the nation of Haiti. More than 1 million people seek care at this facility, which includes the largest pediatric service in the region. However, essential medicines and emergency oxygen containers are not always available when needed due to lack of financial resources and an undependable supply chain. Even in emergency situations, patients' family members are expected to ask friends and family to contribute money and scour local pharmacies for supplies, losing valuable time. These are preventable deaths—if the medicines and supplies are available, the survival rate is much greater.

By ensuring that essential medicines and supplies are in stock at all times, we can help reduce the number of preventable newborn deaths. We estimate that preventing ruptures of essential medicines and supplies will cost about $15,000 annually.

Links:

• Konbit Sante website
• Time magazine article on Haiti oil crisis